Right now, the ring that the gold dot can be in is as thin as a line.
They’re waiting for the dot to jump right into their lap – and it does. Xü Beijin was crouching the entire time, and with a quick swipe, grabs the rusty key out right from the dirt. On the control panel, the position for the gold dot is finally fixed.
Having waited tensely for a while, XĂĽ Beijin sighs in relief.
Lin Qin quickly helps him up.
Xü Beijin is a little dizzy standing up so quickly after crouching for so long, but he’s still excited, saying, “we got it!”
“Yes, we did,” replies Lin Qin, as he helps him nudge their way through the crowded madmen into the Tower.
At least they don’t have to get shoved around by the madmen outside anymore.
From the door, countless madmen are still emerging, in enough numbers that even Lin Qin seems uneasy.
He asks, “if this keeps up… are all of them going to come?”
“That’s right…” Xü Beijin, looking at the crowd with narrowed eyes, smiles and tells Lin Qin, “that is exactly what we need.”
Lin Qin, mystified, looks at him for an answer.
Xü Beijin mumbles, “a great amount of useless, empty rubbish data no longer with human players within…”
Lin Qin doesn’t understand, but he isn’t that interested either. He takes Xü Beijin’s hand and wipes it clean again, also carefully touching where the skin was broken on his hand.
Lin Qin says, “we haven’t even escaped yet, and you’re already hurt so bad.”
Xü Beijin, seeing Lin Qin this way, tells them, “I’m sorry, I…”
“I know you want to do this… this is what we have to do,” Lin Qin gives him a hug, confessing, “I’m really, really worried for you. I’m also worried I can’t protect you well. I’m worried you’ll be in pain.”
Xü Beijin answers after a bit, “I know, but, it wouldn’t hurt… right now, we’re moving right on target. I’m really happy.”
Lin Qin watches him and gives him a little peck on the lips. Then he says, “it feels dry already. Let’s go back to the bookstore and get you some water.”
XĂĽ Beijin can only follow his steps.
What they can do at this stage is over. Now it all comes down to those in the Nightmare.
Xü Beijin looks behind him one last time – those who have made it into the Tower are walking around in the Tower with some purpose, it seems, like they’re looking for the right place. Then, they stand right there after they do, as if they’re waiting.
They’re all waiting, for something.
Xü Beijin gives them one last meaningful glance – surprised by their calm, he realises something and his expression twitches slightly.
Then, he takes a deep breath, before going forward.
Outside the Tower, more doors are appearing, and more people are emerging.
Right now, both the Tower and the Ultimate Nightmare are filling up with people who once succumbed to Nightmares.
Some have stiff poker faces, some have wrathful, aggressive faces like someone insane. They all have different looks and appearances, but the one common thing they share, is the aura of hopelessness.
If one carefully examines all of these people, then perhaps, a familiar figure might emerge.
For example… a woman?
Jiang Shuangmei wipes her sweat off in rather dramatic fashion, and asks, irritated, “are we there yet? I feel like it’s been hours we’ve spent in this grey fog…”
She’s exaggerating, but it’s true they’ve been walking for… at least half an hour through the impenetrable grey fog.
Though according to their previous estimates, they should have arrived at a scene without the grey fog in less than 20 minutes.
Jiang Shuangmei knows her complaint might feel annoying too, and adds, “could it be that the landmark we’re looking for is already consumed by the fog? And we didn’t realise?”
“It’s quite possible,” replies Fei, who then asks Wu Jian, “where were we supposed to stop next?”
When they ventured into the fog, they already considered how difficult it is to identify direction and location in the fog. So they must keep a close eye out for any local landmarks on the way to ensure they’re not lost.
Wu Jian has quite the long face, not that anybody can see his expression clearly, and he says, “it’s the theatre… but to be honest, I suspect we’ve went past that too.”
They fall completely silent.
They realise it’s far more difficult to navigate the grey fog to reach a specific location.
They not only have to be mindful of the direction, but they also have to watch out for the now invisible doors.
Ye Lan almost walked into one, actually, but Xie Zhijin noticed the fog in front not moving uniformly there, so he pulled her back; Ye Lan could very well have disappeared into that door without that.
The incident also sent morale plummeting even more.
Their great enthusiasm they had setting out has simmered in the difficult process.
But at least, they are still heading in the correct direction.
Wu Jian, watching his laptop monitor with brightness set to maximum, suddenly says, a bit nervous in tone, “I only have 50% battery left.”
The mood is souring ever more.
That is when some footsteps can be heard through the fog in their front, and so the five of them come to stop, waiting.
Slowly, two silhouettes emerge. Wu Jian, the first to be able to make their forms out clearly, excitedly calls out, “Mu Jiashi! Shen Yünjü!”
The Missiontakers sigh in relief in reflex meeting up with their other companions.
Mu Jiashi doesn’t look remotely as excited, though, even furrowing his brows a little.
Examining the Missiontakers in front of him, he’s about to speak when he notices a stranger among them.
Wu Jian makes the introductions, while also telling him about Xie Zhijin’s situation.
Mu Jiashi raises his brows a little as he observes him more closely.
Shen YĂĽnjĂĽ also gives him a glance.
Not long ago, Mu Jiashi and he met someone who’s possibly going mad escaping from a bakery.
They decided to separate with him immediately, worrying the madness may spread to them.
But right now, this man, clearly succumbed, given his amnesia over the Tower and Nightmares, is still walking with the other Missiontakers without seemingly causing anything to happen.
He even looks to be of sound mind, mostly.
Is there something special about Xie Zhijin, or…
Mu Jiashi falls into thought.
Fei seems to know what Mu Jiashi is pondering, and asks, “should we move together? I’ll tell you about what we’re trying to do right now.”
So Mu Jiashi asks, “what are you going to do?”
Jiang Shuangmei declares, somewhat excitedly, “go give NE what for!”
Mu Jiashi “…”
Shocked, he looks at the Missiontakers once more. Putting it bluntly… weren’t they expecting to work together with NE before coming here?
It’s barely been a few hours and they’re already going to betray that alliance?